Rival Bobov Factions in Trademark Dispute

Following the death of the fourth Bobover Rebbe, Naftali Zvi Halberstam, in 2005, the Bobov Hassidim have split into two camps with many Bobover Hasidim accepting his son-in-law Rabbi Mordechai Dovid Unger as their Rebbe, whereas others have aligned themselves with his brother, Rabbi Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam as the Rebbe.

The succession is being arbitrated by a Beth Din (Jewish court). However, the issue of the true Bobov Rebbe has also spilled over into the USPTO and courts, with contentious litigation between rival groups claiming and opposing trademarks including the term Bobov.

In April 2006, the Nonogerian Satmar Rebbe, Moshe teitelbaum, was buried in New York. Now the Satmar community is the fastest-growing ultra-orthodox sect in the world, controlling over $1 billion in real estate and social services enterprises, and claiming more than 100,000 members.
Reb Aaron Taitelbaum, Chief Rabbi in Kiryas Joel was one obvious candidate to succeed his father, but younger son, Rav Zalman who headed up the Williamsburg congregation, was also a candidate. The two brothers are to have practically ignored each other for the best part of a decade. No doubt most of the Aharonis and Zalmanis are law-abiding citizens, but disputes between the rival street gangs, sorry cults, have been punctuated by broken arms and legs, and arson attacks on cars and homes.

The Vishnitz Hassidim seem to be less acrimonious. On the other hand, there are so many Vishnitzer Rebbes, untangling the mess is not easy. Briefly,
There is Rebbe Eliezer Hager of Seret-Vizhnitz, who is the present Rebbe of Seret-Vizhnitz of Haifa – (son of the Mekor Baruch). He is not to be confused (Has v’shalom) with the Shotz-Vizhnitz Rebbe of Haifa – (son of Moshe Hager). Now there is also the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak – (son of the Imrei Chaim) and Rebbe Mordechai Hager of Vizhnitz-Monsey the present Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey and the son of the Imrei Chaim. Various other lesser Vishnitzer Rovs and Rebbes abound.

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Please be advised that none of the trademark applications has been registered in the USPTO. Your list is a list of 25 trademark applications, not registrations. The published marks are currently the subject of opposition proceedings.

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